Thrift Store Scores - Pop'n Tags!

@carl669 There is nothing more American than arming small children with beginning Anti-Tank weapons! Nice score!

@mfladd it was either this or the APC they had parked out back. and since he can’t drive yet…

@carl669 @mfladd That thing is perfect!

@sammydog01 aww! Cute!

@sammydog01 my niece would be so jealous

@tinamarie1974 She should be.

@sammydog01 What’s her name?

@OldCatLady Ooh, I should name her. I’ll think about it.

@OldCatLady @sammydog01 Pinky Longface McLongface. Tada!

@OldCatLady @sammydog01 princess cherry blossom

@OldCatLady @sammydog01 @tinamarie1974
Starfire

@mfladd @OldCatLady @sammydog01 someone knows his cartoons/children’s shows

@OldCatLady @sammydog01 @tinamarie1974 Are you kidding me. I will would Teen Titans Go even if my son wasn’t here. Haven’t you seen TTG - The Movie?!

@mfladd @OldCatLady @sammydog01 nope never heard of it! I am currently well versed in Peppa Pig, paw Patrol, Sunny Day, sponge Bob and my FAV Yo Gabba Gabba!

@OldCatLady @sammydog01 @tinamarie1974 Ok, you are in the earlier stages of children shows. You will discover it’s awesomeness later on.

@mfladd @OldCatLady @tinamarie1974 I used to watch Total Drama Island with the kids.

@mfladd @OldCatLady @tinamarie1974 And Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends.

@mfladd @OldCatLady @tinamarie1974 And Courage the Cowardly Dog except the kids were too scared to watch with me.

@sammydog01
I have a blue robot dog who’s related to your pink robot pony. Someone in this thread (or the other one) discovered his lineage - his name is Sport.

@eonfifty That makes us step cousins!

@mfladd what a sweet recliner!!

@mfladd Our ReStore rarely gets anything other than a wide variety of construction materials.

@compunaut There was lots of furniture at this one. It was a nice surprise!

@mfladd the recliner is pretty snazzy! I never find anything that nice at the thrift store

@tinamarie1974 Most of the time not here either, but I was really surprised by the quality of furniture the Restore had. And some really large pieces too.

@mfladd is it brand new? It looks like it might be!

@tinamarie1974 It looks it. It appears to have been a piece that somewhere in someone’s house that was not used frequently. Every time I thought there might be a scratch it was something that just wiped off.

@mfladd lucky boy!

@mfladd @tinamarie1974 my restore always has great furniture

@CaptAmehrican @mfladd I need to start hitting the re store. I have checked Goodwill i the past and it always seems to be junk. Maybe re store is better?

@cfg83 Nice! I really love pics here, so thanks for posting it. And come back with more cool stuff.

@PooltoyWolf Sure. Why not? Free is always good.

Last week I picked up a solid wood bed side table on the curb down the street from my mother’s the day before I left to come home. With it was a double bed headboard and footboard that also had the original side rails (likely very early 1900’s based on the style and solid build- Art Nouveau) on the curb with it. No need for that size and no room to stash it to resell back at home. But I did prop it, and all the pieces, up against the trashcan so someone else would stop and get it. Hopefully anyway (street is a pretty busy one) as it was nice. I felt sort of guilty breaking up the set, but I needed a bedside table.

Not so long ago I got a nice chest of drawers (well will be nice when the finish is touched up - online values of the same thing seem to be around $800 once cleaned up) in the lobby of the hud building I live in. It sat there for over a day before I took it since I already have a chest of drawers and some people living here have less furniture than I do. Apparently no one here knows what quality furniture looks like, they just saw the scratched up top and said nope nope nope.

The other stuff that was left in the lobby was crap (the kind of crap sold as accessories to brown plaid couches made of cheap foam and a cheapo frame where I could, with the help of someone else just like me, easily lift it up over my head and put it on a roof rack - yeah had one of those as a college student, also found on the curb, managed to resell it for $30 later) and vanished quickly.

@PooltoyWolf All great finds like that count! Were they woking or blown?

@mfladd @PooltoyWolf The surrounds for the woofer are all but gone in the pic but replacements are readily available.

Repairing the wood looks to be a much larger undertaking.

@mfladd @narfcake @PooltoyWolf The speakers have a thriving fan base.

@PooltoyWolf Realistic has always been my favorite brand name.

@mfladd @narfcake Correct, all six drivers are working well but the cabinets are pretty bad. I may have to entertain the idea of having new ones fabricated. Woofer surrounds are easy!

@mfladd @narfcake @OldCatLady Indeed they do, as one of the most notable products Radio Shack sold! They were in the catalog for about a decade.

@eonfifty
/image that’s not how it works

@eonfifty Are you nuts - you know not what you’re asking for!!!
Ruuuuun!!!

@eonfifty OK

@sammydog01 Aww, thanks!
/giphy aww thanks

@Kidsandliz Apparently, that is how it works!

@mfladd love them!

@mfladd I would agree. Merrell makes some really nice stuff and I find that brand, more often than not, fits me.

@KittySprinkles I felt bad that @eonfifty actually posted his new sneakers and I used a stock photo.

@eonfifty @mfladd those are awesome!

@eonfifty @KittySprinkles @mfladd
Maybe the original owner died?

@eonfifty @KittySprinkles @mtb002 haha…there you go having to throw the creepy factor into it!

@eonfifty @KittySprinkles @mfladd @mtb002 That’s always my thought when I buy clothing at a thrift shop. But they weren’t using it, right?

@eonfifty @mfladd @mtb002 @sammydog01 My condolences, but hey since you’re here, I’ll give you 2.99 for the sneakers.

@mfladd HAHAHA! Oh wait… do I get a discount too? I should ask.

@sammydog01 you should get a discount for surviving your washing machine’s multiple attempts to turn your house into a private swimming pool.

@OldCatLady They might look good in a fish tank?

@OldCatLady I just learned there is a resale shop in town for craft items.
https://scraprva.org/
I should donate a ton of stuff but I would probably just reload my trunk with new things.

@OldCatLady

@OldCatLady If they were mine I would hoard them forever waiting for the perfect project.

@OldCatLady I would glue them to a picture frame. Could be cool. Or as a white elephant gift

@Kawa Today I just picked up a really nice Black and Brown 1862 Merino sweater at GW for $8.

@sammydog01 nice!

@sammydog01 So does your husband hate it?

@sammydog01 nice ketch… get it? get it? catch?

@Kidsandliz He hasn’t told me yet.

@moonhat

@moonhat @sammydog01 Maybe you could fish around and see if he’s hooked.

@KittySprinkles $118 for joggers? Damn.

@RiotDemon They’re pajamas. With pockets. In jogger style. I am one happy cranky kitty.

@KittySprinkles It’s wonderful when you find ridiculously expensive things that you would never shell the money out for - sweeeeet!

@KittySprinkles That is a sweeeeeet GW find! I approve the Boobie Shack goods!

I had a decent day. The kids and I stopped by and the boy found a pair of Nike Air Jordans and a pair of UnderArmor cleats, both in very good condition. Final cost (sale today) out the door was $4.80.

@mfladd nice haul!! Jake got a few things for his room, a great jacket, and he insisted on some really old rolls of film to give his dad and a nice old wooden clock for our living room. Love taking him with.

@KittySprinkles Right?! I love bringing the kids too. My son always goes directly to the sneakers. I tell them I am teaching them a skill because when they are in college and have no money and eating Ramen noodles they will be shopping here. My daughter really only likes it because thrifting is “a thing” with the young youtube crowd

@mossygreen

@daveinwarsh That’s a sweet record ride!

@mikibell Am I the only one that counted to make sure she got her 16 candles?
/giphy am i the only one?

@therealjrn ummmmmmmm yes… because I think there are 17 shown,hmm maybe 16… but nope, I didn’t count – it was up to her!!! (besides, I made more than 16, just in case some broke in transport!! ----- yes, I am THAT mom!!!)

@sammydog01 and what does he do?

@tinamarie1974

@sammydog01 he is like the Jar Jar Binks of robots. He is cute though

@sammydog01 the annoying part goes with the name … cool find!

@carl669 I just don’t want to share my ice, tray boy!

(notice there is one cube left in the tray

@mfladd jackass!

@OldCatLady You know it’s impossible for a thread to not to stray around here (thread A.D.D.)

Sweet finds…got a pic of that juice fountain?

And what the hell happened with that gif? I would demand a do-over.

@mfladd The Breville is on AMZN, and the first four gifs were wildly off. This was the best of the lot. It’s been that kind of week.

@OldCatLady Here’s one.

@OldCatLady Please be sure your KitchenAid can handle the grain mill attachment. The lower wattage units, and some of the post Hobart units made not so long ago with chinese plastic gear trains could fail under the load.

My wife’s mixer is a lower end unit (still a Hobart but only 225 watts, I think) and would overheat with the mill after only a couple of minutes of operation.

@mfladd @OldCatLady Breville is not cheap new so that’s great. I’m currently pining for their pro convection oven/dehydrator/fryer.

@duodec I just upended the mixer, and it’s 300 watts. Thanks, I didn’t even know about the history.

@OldCatLady Worth checking. I don’t know if the 300 watt model is rated for the mill or not. If its an older Hobart unit they were made better even on the lower power units. And current ones are reportedly improved considerably over the ones being sold 5-10 years ago (chinese plastic geartrains) but its been a while since I delved since we gave up on getting a grain mill and my wife’s sensitivity to gluten put a kibosh on bread kneading and baking.

@duodec Well, hell. It’s not worth the risk. Now I’ve fallen for the high-end dedicated grain mills. Eventually one will show up at a thrift store, and I’ll buy it. I’m getting quite a lineup of single-use small appliances.

@OldCatLady I was all set up to splurge on a Diamante or Country Living mill when my wife told me she was swearing off wheat and bread. I have a smaller hand crank mill, takes about 20 minutes to grind enough flour for a loaf of bread, and I had baked two loaves using wheat from a 50 pound bag of wheat berries I had just purchased… And still have… talk about the proverbial brick wall!

I’m not going to go through all the trouble just for bread for me (and the temptation of that fresh bread baking smell wouldn’t be fair to her).

A powered mill saves a lot of work though…

@duodec I heard a rumor that there is this thing called a grocery store that sells pre-made bread… just sayin’

@Kidsandliz Home made is better. Experimenting with recipes is fun. Trying hard winter wheat versus soft wheat, different levels of grind fine-ness, mixing in oat and/or buckwheat flour, mixing in fruits and making flavored sweet breads… I had such plans.

Alas, Wonder Bread…

@duodec Wonder bread? As in you wonder about bread (snicker). Actually I like Orlando Italian Twist but that isn’t sold around here. I buy 4 loaves (more than that and they get freezer burn) and bring them home from mom’s twice a year.

@duodec @Kidsandliz Gluten does disastrous things to me, so GF baking is my new obsession. The price of GF flours (garbanzo, cashew, almond, brown rice, white rice, sorghum, buckwheat) is terrifying. It may take awhile to pay the cost back, but a dedicated mill makes sense. I currently have 10 lbs of almond flour, from three different friends who tried GF as a trend and gave it up. It’s already going stale. With a mill I could grind only what I needed.

@Kidsandliz @OldCatLady If you don’t have dairy issues, check out something called “Fathead dough”. Its made of almond (maybe others too) flour and a mix of cream cheese and mozzarella cheese and egg. We’ve done pizza crusts and made little sausage sandwiches with it and it is surprisingly bread-like (low-rise).

Usually grinding oily items like nuts takes a different set of parts than dry grains in a mill that can do both. The big manual mills have different augers at least (not sure about the grinding plates or ‘stones’, its been too long since I looked) for larger grains (corn) and oily items. I’m pretty sure the Nutrimill/Wondermill types will have issues with the moist/oily products. So depending on what you get you might end up wanting two mills, or a versatile one that can adapt to both types of food.

The little clamp-on table mill I have did wheat, oats, barley, and buckwheat just fine but choked on bigger items like hard corn. I don’t recall ever trying rice.

If you have any Asian grocery stores or marketplaces nearby you might find rice flour there cheaper than buying in the gluten free section of regular grocery stores. Not sure about other kinds…

@duodec @Kidsandliz @OldCatLady freeze that flour in vacuum seal bags or Ziplocs. I’m gluten free and your freezer is your friend. Coffee grinders are great subs for grain mills in a pinch. gfJules is a great site for mixes and plain flours. She runs some amazing sales. Around the holidays especially. Plus she used to do 50% off Groupon deals about once a year. She shares some amazing recipes too (try her beer batter bread! I make it with anything fizzy). Bob’s Red Mill is good mainstream company that tests their products and even built a dedicated plant for gf.

@mikibell Very nice, but how often and when will you use it? Just asking. With my new small house all I ever see when I look at stuff is - where the hell am I going to put that?

@mfladd @mikibell I’m trying to purge to fit into a new house. The rule is ‘one thing comes in, two things go away.’ Independent charity shops take my donations, I try not to buy someone else’s. They also take bubble wrap, padded mailers and small boxes, all labels removed.

@mfladd @OldCatLady. I have taken 5 boxes of stuff to goodwill this week. it was my gift to myself. If I get enough crap out of my house, we can have company again. Of course, my waterford vase was shattered by my son last night, so one pretty thing swapped for another? My weakness is good crystal

I am un/fortunate to have a 12 room house, but the pack rats have filled it. Letting stuff go is getting easier and easier!

@mikibell my mother in law has a similar one. She used it whenever any of the kids or grandkids visit. It is meant to be used.

@eonfifty No! Those are so cute!

@OldCatLady sign says $15! You got a deal.

@RiotDemon Except that I’ve never tried to play a keyboard. The downloaded manual is surprisingly helpful, though.

@OldCatLady what about regular piano?

I remember buying a very specific beginner music book years ago. Was simple to get started, and then I just got busy with other stuff.

@RiotDemon Piano, some, but never had one of my own to play with. This is purely for fun. It has 100 preprogrammed songs in it, and you can set it to loop, which will impress the cats.

@OldCatLady sounds fun!

@OldCatLady I want one!!! I am not allowed to have my piano in my hud apartment so I play it in the storage unit but I’d rather have something in my apt. I have been cruising craigslist, thrift stores… but so far nothing cheap enough.

@Kidsandliz Look in real charity shops, not the commercial G***W***, Sallies, or Red White and Blue chains. Local hospitals, SPCA, churches etc. The BASCA store is my local favorite. I pass it every time I go to the doctor’s office.

@Kidsandliz @OldCatLady Our GW has had an upright piano for $50 for two weeks. It’s nice, as there seems to be someone playing it often. Last Monday, a little girl was playing great music!
There was also an electronic keyboard, but it didn’t have a stand.
The other little thrift stores here usually have clothes, baby stuff and tons of trinkets. It’s easier to just go to GW lately.

@sammydog01 You’re a great parent, doing your job despite resistance. Mortification, that’s how it’s done!

@sammydog01 aawww I have the vinyl Dave minion doll. He farts if you push his belly. My niece thinks it is hilarious.

@sammydog01 Well then now you have additional leverage for punishment. Instead of taking away everything they value you can force her to be seen in public with you at anywhere her friends might be hanging out (the other one my kid couldn’t stand would be having to say, "You were right. I was wrong. Next time I will listen to you/do what you say…: OMG it would take her at least an hour and she’d say it so softly I’d make her repeat it at normal volume).

@mikibell wow, nice!

@mikibell fancy!

@mikibell That is really great! I’d love to see some of your creations.

@callow I have done some beautiful work with this machine in the past, but it will be a short while before I get to use it again. I am getting ready for a sweet 16 party and that has taken over my craft area (also known as my entire house, if you ask my husband!!)

Today they had another piece: 2.5 yards for $5.

@OldCatLady Show us the end result?

@OldCatLady I swear I remember outline quilting that fabric! I’d love to see your finished slip cover.

@tngrannyd do you have a picture?

@eonfifty Really cleaned up with this find huh?

@therealjrn
/image rimshot

@mfladd Gosh too bad I recently gave away my kid’s (unisex)soccer goalie stuff to a local team - shirt with padded forearms and pants with padded thighs, a couple of short sleeve shirts to put over the team shirt. If I find more soccer crap in the storage unit I’ll let you know. How big is this kid? The stuff I gave away fit a kid 125 pounds and 5’5". Might have some shin guards around, soccer socks (obviously not for games)

@Kidsandliz I bought a small on eBay cause it was such a deal - it just fits him now. I bought a large on eBay (deal) and he really liked it (for later). And the one I found on at GW is a medium for next fall. I have all sizes covered for jerseys (youth sizes).
My son is is 65lbs and not sure of height (small - 9yrs).
Thanks for thinking of me!

@Fuzzalini I am glad to see you popping in and posting finds. Please continue to do so.
p.s. I also love pics

@OldCatLady I say yes.

@narfcake I have the wooden seat, but the cushion needs to be recovered. Wonder who the mfr is. Who cares, the price was right.

@OldCatLady
Most of what I’ve posted in these threads have been street finds or dumpster deals, so I say yes too.
/giphy dumpster goat

OK so I had a street find - well actually a next to the dumpster find where I live. Nice, small scale recliner. It worked. Springs weren’t broken. Barely dirty. Comfortable. (Likely belonged to one of the two people who died in this building in the last couple of weeks and their family probably dumped it). I wanted it since my place is too small for a couch to fit. So I was loading it into my car when a woman came running up telling me she had wanted that for her niece who had no furniture. Sigh. So I figured her need was greater than mine and so I drove it to her niece’s apartment. Turns out it was true. Empty apartment. This is her only piece of furniture.

@compunaut Holy shit, that was a nice score. A little jelly about it

@duodec
Do you think any of the items you donate will become someone’s Thrift Store Score? What are you donating?

@eonfifty
So far a stack of books (likely to go to the Friends of the Library instead), a new police duty belt (the big wide ones designed to hold holsters and carriers/pouches), a brown open top carry bag (pseudo briefcase), and a set of Bushnell 7x50 binoculars (with case, caps, and manual) that I’ve had for ~40 years (they were made in Japan); I have a pair of Steiners now so don’t use them anymore. That and clothes (in near new condition)

There will be more but not sure what. We’re hoping to move in a couple of years so purging is now a regular imperative. Hoping to do a yard sale or two this year also.

@duodec @eonfifty Good for you! We are hoping the government will buy and demolish our home, perhaps as soon as sometime this year, and I should be purging, but I am super bad at it.

@mossygreen why would the government buy your home? They building a highway through your living room?

@Kidsandliz Because it’s in a flood plain and I guess it would be more expensive to fix and maintain the area than move people out and make it a small park. A small park frequently containing standing water.

@mossygreen Goodness! Those girls have had a fun weekend!

@mossygreen @therealjrn What happens in the box, stays in the box!

@RiotDemon You are correct. You know how I enjoy the pain of it.

@mfladd if you enjoyed it, you’d still be using the other thread.

/giphy skeptic

@RiotDemon You are too smart for my own good.
I like the effect of all, but waiting is not one of my strong suits - I want it all NOW.

They’re comfy and go for about $50 new. Maybe not quite a score on price, but for sure a score on size It’s hard to find anything bigger than 12 in the thrift stores.

@eonfifty I thought of you the other day when I found a couple pairs of sweet sneakers at a GW. They were size 13.

@mfladd That’s a rarity. Either people with big feet never donate, or they’re like me and wear shoes until they fall apart

@OldCatLady
/image Hamilton bill

Levers installed, and I am awed. They need a little wood filler, and two sets (not one) need to be rekeyed, but it’s started. Hinges (8) are too big/solid/heavy for my doors, so I need another project. Hmm. Suggestions?

@OldCatLady Luvin those levers!!!

@OldCatLady seems you have installed them sideways though

@mikibell Sigh.

@OldCatLady hehheehehe… There is a sign at the hospital explicitly stating how to use a handle.like that…like it is rocket science it made me laugh, as did the sideways photo…so.sorry !!

@mikibell Go ahead and laugh. Four doors upgraded, materials and labor, fifty bucks, with hinges and a lot of brass screws still to play with. I’m delighted with the levers. I just can’t rotate pictures!

@sammydog01 well that should at least brighten your bad day!!!

Do you have a HUGE house, or do you give stuff away periodically?? I suspect you have robots attempting to rule your roost!

@mikibell I’m keeping the box because it will most likely be taking a trip to a different thrift shop in the near future. I call it crapcycling.

@sammydog01 can you rearrange the rings on the lamp?

@RiotDemon YES!!! Also some of the colors fluoresce under black lights so I may have to find a black light bulb.

@sammydog01 I have some if you want one!

@RiotDemon @sammydog01 The rare token lamp find!? SweeeT!

Also, I love those custard bowls!

@mfladd @RiotDemon @sammydog01 My mom had a bunch of ones exactly like those. Dad liked to give us cereal bowls full of ice cream as kids. Those custard cups are the ones she’d use if she was dishing it. When I was 3 or 4 my mom asked my dad to feed us breakfast. She then yelled down stairs, “The kids are so quiet. What did you feed them?” Long pause and dad, looking guilty and sounding it said, “Ice cream”. I took off with my bowl, crouched behind a chair in the living room and wolfed it down as fast as I could as I was convinced mom was going to come downstairs and take it away. I got my first ice cream headache doing that. Likely that is why I remember it.

@Kidsandliz @mfladd @RiotDemon I bought the custard cups because they looked familiar and I just remembered why- we used them as cat food bowls. I miss having a cat.

@sammydog01 So get a cat now that you have cat food bowls. And yes there is something very comforting about cats when they cuddle up to you and purr their little hearts out.

@mfladd take the time to install your bidet instead of going to the store tomorrow!

@RiotDemon Ugh…bidet. Keep hounding me - it might get done (sometime).

But I will add that I did get a NICE pair of Merrell Jungle Mocs for $2!!!

This is why I’m addicted. Crazy ass deals like that!
And soooo many Merrells.

@mfladd I hope you have a really, really big house to store these thing in, otherwise watch these videos for a peak into your future

https://meh.com/forum/topics/guy-buys-hoarder-house

Hmm I like Merrells. Women’s 10 fits me perfectly. I have never, ever seen them in a thrift store around here. Ever. Only in consignment shops at worse than ebay prices.

@Kidsandliz I will keep an eye out.

@mfladd Thanks but I don’t have money.

I just checked and the last bid was 2 hours ago so my new toy is guilt-free, baby!

@sammydog01 Oh hey, this means I have a question for you: I bought a used 3doodler create last spring that didn’t have the unblocking tool and I’ve been afraid to use it (although I’ve loaded up on filament for it), even though I assume I can use a thick wire or thin skewer. Is the unblocking tool something more than a thick wire with a handle?

Wait, sorry, I should have started with congratulations. Congratulations on your score!

@mossygreen Thank you! And yes, it’s thick wire with a handle. I have extras- I can send you one if you whisper your address. The Create + is a lot better about jamming which is why I upgraded- it says it’s dual drive but I haven’t had it jam yet.

@sammydog01 That is a kind and generous offer that I am quite likely to take you up on. Thank you.

@Kidsandliz Major finds, and good work hooking up the other groups.

@OldCatLady Well I don’t know if they will follow through, but at least I tried. I just hate that all that stuff is being thrown out.

@Kidsandliz congrats on the finds. just gonna leave this here… https://www.howtogeek.com/96805/how-to-reset-your-windows-password-without-an-install-cd/ - as long as it’s got a local windows account and not a Microsoft account (if it’s windows 7 it’s local only - 8 and up it’s a tossup) you’re in business.

Also I believe you can just use online Office for free (you have to be online for that, though). If not that, there is the Google suite or even LibreOffice. If you can’t get past the Windows password you may want to run something like Linux Mint on it instead. It will perform well on older hardware and have Office-compatible software, and doesn’t require you to be super techy to get it running and get online.

@djslack the internet said it came with 8, so it is at least 8

@mikibell That is a serious score and it new no less!!

@mikibell what the hell! So jelly!

@Kidsandliz @riotdemon love staples clearance… Got a gorgeous bookcase for like $11…I use it for an entryway sorter for buckets of hats and stuff…

This was 17.50, slightly ripped box, so might be missing parts, but I doubt it. Had a $10 off $20 coupon, so the $3 notebook I originally needed put it over the top!!

@mossygreen The interesting part is that I bought Headless Headmistress Bloodgood herself at the SAME Savers last year!

@ELUNO I’m not in what you would consider a nicer area and I have still found some amazing deals. The finds are there, but you have to go often and really scour the shelves or you might miss them.

@mfladd That’s true. Do they receive new stuff weekly? Monthly?

@ELUNO @mfladd Daily for the Goodwill stores in my area.

Some items they put out are from the donations at the local store and some are items redistributed to/from other stores within the same chapter.

@tnhillbillygal Goodwill prices here are like that for non-clothing items. I suspect they sell the good stuff through that online auction system too. The local places occasionally have some cheap stuff though.

@sammydog01 @tnhillbillygal I don’t mind that so much when it’s a well-operated non-profit store. If the clientele in that area is willing to pay for it, I can’t blame them for maximizing their returns. I’ve purchased stuff that would have cost as much as buying from somewhere else, but my dollars went to the community, not to Wall street.

OTOH, the for-profit thrift stores … my wallet stays closed. That is, if I even set foot in there in the first place. I despise places that make it seem like they help other organizations a lot when in reality is that they’re helping themselves first.

(Thank you, Washington state Attorney General:
https://agportal-s3bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/uploadedfiles/Another/News/Press_Releases/2017_12_20Complaint_ (002).pdf)

@compunaut That is very kind of you. I don’t see musical instruments when I am looking around the stores.

@compunaut @mfladd Me neither. And I am looking for an 88 key keyboard since I am not allowed to have my piano in my apt and really miss playing the piano.

@mfladd As I often tell my kids, I sincerely believe that the foundation of my ability to discern higher/deeper levels of musical quality and my enjoyment of music overall is rooted in my long experience (4th grade thru college) participating in concert band. Just hoping I can help some youngster find that same life-long resonance.

I don’t spend too much time at the actual local GW stores, but I DO shop the local online GW (no shipping costs). Maybe the more obvious high $$$ items like instruments, stereo eqmt, computers, etc are being funneled to online sales.

@Kidsandliz @mfladd The larger full-sized keyboards are much harder to come by. I have a decent smaller machine from back when I had aspirations (long since dead) of digital music composition; my youngest is a piano player & considers it a toy. #spoiled

@compunaut @mfladd Well that then explains why I haven’t found much in the way of the larger ones on craigslist or in thrift stores.

@duodec Items donated at the end of the year are just now making it onto the shelves. Good hunting! And sorry about the books.

@duodec @OldCatLady Yeah, I’m seeing some of the stuff I donated in December in a couple thrift stores now too.

@mfladd do you go every day?

Those look super clean!

@RiotDemon The GW is only a couple miles away and I pass it all the time in my travels. So if I can, I stop in - since they have new stuff everyday. The shoes really are new. There is no wear at all.
I also picked up a really nice Ralph Lauren Polo coat for my son for $5.25. He will have to grow into it though.

@mfladd Nice find on Hoka’s. If you find Altra’s in similar condition snatch them up…they are amazing!

@tightwad They also had a pair of Hoka sneakers, a bit more used but still very nice. I will probably return tomorrow for them. They were the same size so probably donated by the same person. Cost was $6.

@mikibell
/youtube how do gumball machines work

@mikibell @narfcake That’s an awesome find!

KRULL! A SKULL! BRETT HULL! AWESOME!

@mfladd why are you shopping instead of installing your bidet? What is wrong with you?

@RiotDemon Paying $2 was easier than installing the bidet.

@mfladd
/giphy lazy

@OldCatLady ummm…did you steal MoonMoonDog’s bag of stuff?

@mfladd @OldCatLady
/giphy something’s afoot

@mfladd @RiotDemon We live in the same headspace. It gives us someone to argue with.

@MoonMoonDog Well at least none of those things need to be in the freezer you don’t have.

@OldCatLady
/giphy regret

@OldCatLady Looks comfy, bet you think you’re sitting pretty now huh?

@OldCatLady pretty

@OldCatLady That is SweeeT!

@mfladd They have four more in red, without arms, for $15. each. Very solid, deep seat cushioning.

@OldCatLady I still can’t believe how sweet that chair is
Nice find!!!

@mfladd Holy moley. I have never seen those quality shoes in any store around. Tomorrow my $10. door levers & hardware will be installed; I’ll post a picture.

@OldCatLady Please do - I want to see those sweet levers!

I really have to look for the shoes, but every so often they are in the stores I go to.

@mfladd The stuff I find here is crappy for the most part. And I really need to stop buying crap I don’t need. But since you asked I’ll snap a photo of my all-time favorite find.

@mfladd Thrift stores around here are so picked over (due to the local poverty level) that you more or less have to be there when they stock the shelves. I can find baby clothes, girls toddler clothes but that is about it. There is extremely limited amount of boys clothing (of course considering how they beat it up I am not surprised). Adult stuff is hit or miss. Mostly out of style things.

@mfladd The pickings are very slim lately.
Probably due to the feet of snow…
Last few times I’ve gone in, I came back with nothing.
Waiting for people to clean out & donate their stuff!

@mfladd Don’t I post enough shirts in various threads as it is? The majority of what I buy/wear comes from shirt.woot, with TeeTurtle a distant second. I probably don’t need to post any more than I already do for either.

@narfcake True of the shirts, but man cannot live on shirts alone. Hence, more thrift shop buys!

@sammydog01 I remember that elephant table. That was a great find!!!

@sammydog01 Adorbs!

@sammydog01 Cool jar!

@mfladd that’s a really good deal, but don’t feel too bad. My experience with Dyson vacuums leaves me feeling they are overrated. Sure, they’re pricey. But they’re just pretty good vacuums, not amazing ones. They just have really good marketing and space age looking design. The move to all cordless puzzles me a little bit, too. Why choose to limit power when it’s not necessary?

If you ever see a Miele in that upscale GW, though, snap it up.

@djslack I completely agree with you on the Dyson’s. I have never been overly impressed with my cordless. It’s ok - but that’s it - just ok. But for $25 it was still hard to walk away from. I will keep an eye out for the Miele

@djslack @mfladd I absolutely love my Dyson for carpet. Hard surfaces are another story. I think the newer compact hand held ones work better for hard floors from what I understand. I have the blue allergen version of the one you pictured. Unless you have a bunch of carpet, don’t feel bad.

@djslack @mfladd @RiotDemon I still have a couple Dysons myself. Agreed - very good, but not great. Easy resale, though, and I turned my $10 into $50. That paid for both of the purple ones I still have now and partially for its new filters.

The one I got for $7.50 (75% off!) didn’t suck because there was a wad of paper stuck in the hose. Common sense isn’t so common, it seems.

@narfcake but Dyson says it never loses suction. Clearly it was defective!

@mfladd so you didn’t buy it??? And what is an “upscale” GW, they are all.the same around here…

@mfladd i have found four or five Dysons while sidewalk shopping.

One had a hole in a hose, one had a broken switch between floor and tools, one was just clogged, and one needed the beater bar reset. I gave two of them to friends who needed decent vacuums after we fixed them, and I have an upstairs one and a downstairs one.

In fact, pretty much every vacuum I’ve ever found and grabbed from the sidewalk on trash day has either worked or been an easy fix.

@tinamarie1974 I didn’t buy it, but it was haaaard to pass on the deal.
I say “upscale” GW, because it is in a trendy, more expensive area. It always has some of the best stuff, and lots of designer clothes. They almost always have something that I want.

@mfladd you clearly have more will power than me, I would have caved! I guess we have one or two in more upscale areas, but I rarely have luck finding anything

@mfladd @tinamarie1974 Our Goodwills are very good at pricing stuff- the religious thrift stores have better deals.

@mfladd @sammydog01 yeah there are a few independent resale clothing stores I like much better here.

@sammydog01 @tinamarie1974 Agreed. We have one religious store that has waaaay better deals than GW and some good stuff. This ministry serves over 300 homeless meals a day. It’s where I always donate my stuff. GW is a business, but it doesn’t stop me from getting some good deals there.

@mfladd Yes, they are a business, but Goodwill does help out in providing job training to those with disabilities. Some chapters operate better than others, however.

Here, I prefer them because the majority of the clothing is priced by type, not by the whim of the staff. Most of the others and all the for-profit thrift stores are all variable priced – and are usually higher than I care for, which helps curtail my buying, I suppose.

@mfladd @narfcake Here’s a quote from the Goodwill site:

Goodwill® is a 501©(3) nonprofit that strives to enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals and families by helping people reach their full potential through education, skills training and the power of work.

Goodwills meet the needs of all job seekers, including programs for youth, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities, criminal backgrounds and other specialized needs. In 2017, Goodwill helped more than 288,000 people train for careers in industries such as banking, IT and health care, to name a few — and get the supporting services they needed to be successful — such as English language training, additional education, or access to transportation and child care.

So not just for the disabled. I think that’s wonderful.

@mfladd @narfcake @sammydog01 but the 872 stickers on one item HAS to go!! Or we need a creative upcycle of them!!! I had some stuck in my hair when I left the house today!

@therealjrn You are full of snark tonight, aren’t you?
I like it!
Plus, if you would like to send me a free, fast laptop I will gladly post it here as a deal!

@mfladd Only if you buy me a plane ticket too and I get to smack you. lol

@therealjrn Everyone wants to smack me? You people have such violent tendencies tonight.

@mfladd

@RiotDemon Yeeeeees, Mistress RiotDemon!

@mfladd Be careful. @Kittysprinkles might get jealous of @RiotDemon and then there’d be trouble on the forums. (smirk)

@Kidsandliz @KittySprinkles @mfladd she can have him. No need for a fight.

@Kidsandliz @mfladd @RiotDemon

Wait, what? I don’t want him! He’s got cooties and only one ice cube.

@KittySprinkles @mfladd you can put him to work cleaning and making more ice cubes.

@mfladd @RiotDemon Do you have any spare duct tape for his mouth? He’s a chatty one.

@KittySprinkles @mfladd he comes with a ball gag.

@mfladd @RiotDemon Yeah, because the little bitch never returned it.

@KittySprinkles Damnit @mfladd!

@KittySprinkles @RiotDemon That’s it? And here I was just getting aroused by the whole banter between you two.

@mfladd @RiotDemon Pfft, you get aroused by a slight breeze.

@KittySprinkles @mfladd I’m sure you’ll be thinking later about having two ladies telling you to sit down and shut the fuck up.

@KittySprinkles @RiotDemon Who would be one lucky guy…

@mfladd @RiotDemon

@KittySprinkles @mfladd @RiotDemon Finally the banter we have been missing has come back. Yea!

@KittySprinkles I can loan you my horse whips. I saved them in case I ever got back into riding. It’ll put @mfladd in his place.

@KittySprinkles @RiotDemon Watch your six.

@mfladd @RiotDemon

@mfladd @RiotDemon
/giphy I like this thread

@SenorYEETZ he’s tied up at the moment.

@SenorYEETZ I’m here. Glad to see you back!
Now go find some great thrift store deals and post them here.

@RiotDemon If I were so lucky!

@mfladd You paid less than $10., and have moved to the dark side. You will net $50. and never look back. Right? Congrats on the Keurig; I have fallen deeply in love with the reservoir. The vest is a true dragon-worthy treasure, too.

@mfladd hopefully you bought the sneakers for less than what you end up selling them for. (snicker)

@OldCatLady Ha…not even close

@Kidsandliz That is the plan. I don’t think there is any way I will lose money on these. But I will report back on what happens.

@OldCatLady Not exactly dark side. It’s not like I am going to make selling things on ebay a thing. Or really looking for things to sell. I have just never sold anything there before. I have a couple of things I want to list right now. These sneakers just stood out for the price. These sneakers are on a shoe level that I never even delve into. The sneaker head shoe market is a different beast. I just know I can make some money on them. They didn’t come cheap to me - even the salvation army knew what they had.

@mfladd so, spill the beans. How much did you pay?

@RiotDemon Guesses are required.

@mfladd $50 and GW should be smacked.

@RiotDemon ummm…$69.99. I hope to get at least $120 or more, used in their condition. Release price in 2017 was $190, current new prices are $275 - $300, or more. Actual bids (not asking prices) on ebay for used are $120-130 range for good condition.

I am just not sure who donates shoes with this value to a salvation army. They had three different pairs there, and one disappeared before I even made a decision to buy.

@mfladd is that for kids sizes?

Who in their right mind spends hundreds on kids shoes?

@RiotDemon Adult, size 11. Like I said - the sneaker head market is bizarre, exists, and is a big business. I listened to a national radio show the other day that had a guy who makes an actual great living on nothing but dealing in sneakers. Bizzaro!!!

@mfladd the shoes you bought are adults? They look tiny!

@RiotDemon Not when you see them in person - they are big and bulky.

@mfladd makes more sense. They looked like toddler shoes to me. Good luck selling!

@RiotDemon Thanks!

@Kidsandliz @OldCatLady @RiotDemon Remember the crazy ass sneaker prices I was mentioning. Look at this ebay auction going on. Current bid is $5700!!! WTF?!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Travis-Scott-x-Jordan-1-Cactus-Jack/223396244507?_trkparms=aid%3D888007%26algo%3DDISC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131227121020%26meid%3Ddcf49c32d92145b8be91782619066d44%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D2%26sd%3D143131440994%26itm%3D223396244507&_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982

@Kidsandliz @mfladd @OldCatLady @RiotDemon And the seller has 66.7% positive feedback. Yikes.

@mfladd @OldCatLady @RiotDemon Why on god’s earth would someone pay that for a pair of shoes? What is so special about them?

@Kidsandliz @OldCatLady @RiotDemon Nothing. Limited editions. It’s a bizarre world. This sneaker market has been around for a while.

@Kidsandliz @OldCatLady @RiotDemon @sammydog01 Ha! I didn’t even notice the feedback rating. Yikes is right!

@Kidsandliz @mfladd @RiotDemon I just about choked when I saw the Supreme box logo shirt prices. Educational.

@Kidsandliz @OldCatLady @RiotDemon @sammydog01 Amazingly, I accepted a bid on ebay for the Air Jordan sneakers - $120.00 plus shipping

On to selling the NestE/Google mini deal @routtaurmind found me some time ago.

@mfladd sheesh. You should of sold them for 3k.

@Kidsandliz @mfladd @OldCatLady @RiotDemon

@compunaut retro!

@compunaut that is prettyyyy…

@compunaut that is spectacular. I want.

@sammydog01 that looks fun! I just searched quickly… The monorail set is $700??? Wut.

I wonder what your set is called.

@RiotDemon Looks like I have the conveyor company start set, the tower crane, and 2 skip tracks. These are old models so the auction prices are probably inflated.

@sammydog01 Always worth playing with. Always.